10 High-Paying Engineering Jobs in India

Engineering is a dynamic field focused on solving real-world problems and creating innovative solutions using scientific and mathematical concepts. The engineering field is vast, covering disciplines from electrical engineering to construction to software engineering. Engineering is a top career choice in India thanks to its attractive job prospects and annual earning potential. The type of engineering you choose can greatly impact your salary. 

Explore 10 high-paying engineering jobs in India, including average salaries and typical job responsibilities. 

What is engineering?

The engineering field solves problems by using science and maths principles and applying them to real-world issues. Engineers identify and define problems, then use their technical skills, creativity, and analytical thinking to design effective solutions. Common engineering fields include civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering, but you can choose to specialise in many fields and subfields. Though each engineering discipline is distinct, they all share the same underlying goal: to use science, technology, and innovation to improve the world.

Engineering demand

The demand for engineers in India is rapidly increasing, driven by government's ambition to become a global leader in technology and manufacturing. Government initiatives, such as the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), and investments in engineering research and development (expected to reach USD 63 billion in 2025) are contributing to the high demand for engineers, making it an exciting field to enter in the coming years with attractive opportunities and benefits [1].

10 high-paying engineering jobs

Engineers tend to be paid well in India, largely due to their technical expertise, required qualifications, and high demand. Here are 10 of the highest-paying jobs within the engineering field.

* All salary data was collected from Indeed India as of February 2025.

1. Computer hardware engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹2,14,415

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field; strong understanding of maths, science, and computer programming

Computer engineering combines electrical and computer science to design and build computer systems and hardware. While most of the work is related to engineering hardware, a computer hardware engineer must still be able to code to ensure their hardware works with the latest software. Many computer hardware engineers work for companies specialising in computer systems design, tech companies, engineering firms, IT consultancies, government agencies, telecommunications companies, and software development firms. 

2. Software engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹7,45,959

Typical requirements: Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer applications,y, computer engineering, information technology, or a related field; a solid background in computer programming

Software engineers design and develop computer programs and applications. This could involve writing software to perform certain tasks. A software engineer should master at least one programming language, such as Java, Python, or C++. Many software engineers may work for technology companies, publishers, manufacturing companies, or financial firms. However, as a software engineer, you can often find work in non-technical domains such as healthcare or retail.

3. Chemical engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹2,90,297

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in chemical engineering or a related field; practical experience through an internship or other programme.

Chemical engineers apply their knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and maths to solve problems and create new and economical products in a variety of industries. Common industries a chemical engineer may work in are food, fuel, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, petroleum, electronic, environmental, and consumer products. Most chemical engineers work in an office or laboratory setting.

4. Biomedical engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹2,75,650

Typical requirements: Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, or a related engineering field; some employers may require a postgraduate degree in an area of specialisation 

Biomedical engineers design equipment, devices, computer systems, and software. They may work in areas such as the design and development of prosthetic implants, artificial organs, biomedical and signal image processing, or medical machines and equipment. Many biomedical engineers work in research and development, while others work in healthcare, government, manufacturing, or academia.

5. Petroleum engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹13,08,164

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field

Petroleum engineers are responsible for designing and developing ways to extract oil and gas from offshore, below the earth’s surface. This could include designing drill equipment or determining the oil extraction technique. 

Depending on your area of expertise, you may work in subsectors of petroleum engineering, such as oil and gas filtering, drilling, production, or reservoir engineering. Petroleum engineers often work on and offshore for a gas or drilling company.

6. Electrical engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹3,10,918

Typical requirements: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related engineering field; practical experience from an internship or cooperative engineering programs; some employers may look for specialised professional certificates 

Electrical engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing electrical equipment. This involves maintenance, upgrades, and installations of electrical systems within your industry. Many engineers work on electrical systems for telecommunication and household appliances, automotive industries, satellite communications, or buildings. Electrical engineers could work in an office environment or at manufacturing sites. Still, they may also travel to locations where their projects occur, depending on their industry. 

7. Data engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹9,72,055

Typical requirements: Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, data science, or related field; knowledge of programming languages; some employers may look for specialised certifications

Data engineers are responsible for creating databases and organising large data sets to analyse them. This may involve building and organising data in data warehouses, data processing, cybersecurity, etc. As a data engineer, you can work in many industries, and data analytics is essential to running many types of businesses. Data engineers typically work for tech companies, government agencies, e-commerce platforms, health care services, and financial institutions..

8. Materials engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹4,43,460

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in materials science or engineering or a related field of study

Materials engineers develop and test materials for products in various industries. They research the properties of different elements, such as metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and semiconductors. Materials engineers commonly work at manufacturing plants, research and development firms, consulting firms, government organisations, or engineering service firms. 

9. Industrial engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹4,09,727

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in industrial engineering, industrial and systems engineering, industrial and safety engineering, industrial safety management, or a related field of study

Industrial engineers work to optimise processes related to producing goods or materials. They oversee entire systems of machines, workers, processes, energy, and information. In this role, you may have a variety of tasks, such as monitoring operations to improve efficiency, conducting inventory analysis, improving system integrations, and training production personnel.

10. Aeronautical engineer

Average annual salary in India: ₹4,24,527

Typical requirements: Bachelor's or postgraduate degree in aeronautical engineering or a related field

Aeronautical engineers design, test, and develop prototypes for aerial machines like aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. They ensure that products comply with engineering principles, safety requirements, and environmental regulations. Popular types of employment in this field include airlines, aircraft manufacturing companies, aircraft part manufacturing companies, aviation training centres, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organisations. 

How to obtain a high-paying engineering job

To become an engineer, you'll typically need a bachelor’s degree–either a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) or a Bachelor of Technology (BTech)--from an accredited engineering programme in the respective engineering field. Many engineering students also complete at least one internship or cooperative experience in their field. These additional work experiences tend to set students apart when applying for their first engineering job. Some engineering jobs also require a master’s degree or look for professional certifications or certificates in a certain area of specialisation.

Advance your engineering career with Coursera

Thanks to an innovative environment and attractive pay, engineering is a versatile and highly sought-after professional field. When looking for a high-paying engineering job, you can choose from many fields, including computer engineering, electrical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and more.

Degrees and certificate programmes are excellent way to gain knowledge and demonstrate expertise. If you're unsure whether engineering is the right career path, you can enroll in a free online course like Introduction to Engineering Mechanics, available on Coursera. Or, supplement your existing experience and build your resume with a specialised certificate programme like IBM's AI Engineering Professional Certificate.